• NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen thanks General David Petraeus for his command of coalition troops, and hails the handing over of Bamiyan province to Afghan security forces as the beginning of full transition.

• UK Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox is set to unveil a radical overhaul of the British Army. It is expected that regular troop levels will fall from 101,000 to 82,000 by 2020. Dr Fox is also expected to endorse a review of the UK’s use of its reserve forces for frontline activities.

• L-3 uses the UK’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) to unveil its Spydr intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. The Spydr is based upon Hawker Beechcraft’s King Air 350-ER with the potential to be equipped with L-3’s processing, exploitation and dissemination systems.
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• MBDA unveils the CVS401 Perseus concept missile system. Cast as MBDA’s “vision of a multi-role strike weapon system for 2030 and beyond”, Perseus is designed to be operated through advanced Operations and Mission Planning Systems across all platforms.

• MBDA also announces a successful underwater test launch of France’s SCALP/MdCN cruise missile, which will equip the future SSN Barracuda fast attack submarine. A 2006 French contract for 250 missiles covered both ship and submarine launched versions.

• Centurum wins a performance-based contract to provide command and control systems support for new Department of Defense (DoD) integrated systems and networks. The potential cumulative value of this contract is an estimated $77 million.

• Speaking to a media roundtable at the Paris Air Show, the President and Chief Executive of Boeing reflected on the company’s recent fortunes within Asia’s defense markets.

• US KC-46A 767 tankers will carry Raytheon’s AN/ALR-69 radar warning receivers, and their anti-jam GPS receivers.

• Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary ELTA Systems announces that it has sold compact intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to an unnamed Latin American customer. The ELI-3120 is used for a number of homeland security tasks including the deterring of arms and narcotics trafficking.

• Research and Markets publishes the Syria Defense and Security Report Q3 2011.

• Three days after the completion of Operation Sea Breeze 2011, an unidentified diplomat tells RIA Novosti that Russia should not be surprised by talks between Ukraine and NATO that discussed “everything but membership”.

• Defense Legislation outlines the options to address Members of Congress’ concerns about the United States’ ability to acquire rare earth elements used in various defense weapons systems.

• A new report from Pike Research predicts that global military agencies’ spending on renewable energy technologies will continue to rise rapidly over the next two decades, growing from $1.8 billion per year in 2010 to $26.8 billion by 2030. Portable soldier power, land, air, sea vehicles and facilities operations will account for the majority of expenditure.

• The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) plans to award QinetiQ a $40 million 5 year contract to develop and evaluate new ground-based missile-and air-defense systems architectures in the Architecture Characterization Program (A2CP).

• The U.S. Air Force awards General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems a $7.8 million contract to develop an Open System Architecture (OSA) common back-end digital processor for its radio frequency (RF) electronic devices. The contract covers radars, SIGINT sensors, electronic-warfare and communication systems.

• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will unveil the new Medium-weight Laser Guided Bomb (MLGB) at the upcoming Paris Air Show. The MLGB is a dual mode laser guided/GPS guided weapon optimized for light attack aircraft.

• The BBC reports on Saab’s attempts to expand sales of its defense and service solutions to customers around the world. Key to the company’s strategy is the modification of its Saab 340 and 2000 aircraft for ‘special missions’ aimed at combating ‘worldwide threats.’

• Turkey’s Prime Minister pledges that the domestic defense sector will produce “tanks, helicopters, planes, unmanned aircraft and military satellites in the next 12 years.” Prior to his recent election victory Recep Tayyip Erdo?an identified Turkey’s national defense industry as one of the pillars of a modern economy in the 2020s.

• UAS Vision reports that the technology research section of the Japanese Self Defence Forces has developed an unmanned flying ball capable of conducting search-and-rescue and espionage missions.

• ADS, the UK’s aerospace, defense and security trade organization, publishes its annual aerospace sector survey covering both civil and defense aerospace. The survey outlines a strong performance for the UK’s aerospace sector despite tough economic conditions. Highlights include sales in excess of $38 billion, a 2.1% increase on 2009 figures.

• Boeing announces that its Defense, Space & Security unit has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with three Malaysian companies. The MOUs outline plans to explore business opportunities for manufacturing specialized components and equipment for use in the defense and aerospace sectors.

• Boeing is also urging governments to buy new 737-based military aircraft “sooner rather than later” as the commercial version faces a redesign or retirement in the next few years. The planemaker’s review of the 737 – which includes consideration of larger engines to compete with the Airbus SAS A320neo – may affect production of the P-8 variant used as a submarine hunter.

• Flight International reports that Saab has not given up on winning India’s medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contest, despite not making the Indian Air Force’s final shortlist.

• MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates signs a contract in excess of $8 million to provide an unnamed customer with a multi-satellite ground station solution capable of programming, receiving and processing imagery and data.

• The Department of Defense announces $37.8 million-worth of awards to academic institutions to support the purchase of research instrumentation. The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program supports the purchase of equipment that augments current university capabilities or develops new university capabilities to perform defense research. A full list of awards can be accessed here [PDF].

• Spain’s Minister of Defense says that the launch of Hisdesat’s Paz satellite in 2012 will make them the first European country to have a dual Earth observation system for both civilian and military use.

• Speculation mounts that China has developed the world’s second fifth-generation fighter after photographs emerge on web forums of an unknown aircraft standing at an aerodrome. Whilst the aircraft bears similarities with the J-20 prototype there are also rumors that it may be a stealth version of the JH-7 fighter.

• Bloomberg analysts report that US SOCOM spending has quadrupled from 2001-2010, led by L-3, Harris, Raytheon and Boeing.  On the other hand, small businesses have seen seen a sixfold increase in SOCOM contracts during that time.

• A new report by AlixPartners predicts that the aerospace and defense sector will face tough and contradictory burdens in the next few years, as the need to meet an anticipated 25% jump in commercial-aircraft deliveries by 2014 contrasts with further belt-tightening of nations’ defense budgets.

• In advance of Leon Panetta’s Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, analysts speculate how the next Defense Secretary will adjust U.S. defense strategy to ensure the impending budget cuts make sense.

• Otokar’s privately-developed Arma 6×6 wheeled APC picks up its 2nd export contract, for $63.2M, but the Turkish firm won’t say to whom. The wheeled APC market is crowded. Their Turkish competitor FNSS’ Pars serves in Turkey, and recently picked up a larger win in Malaysia.

• Northrop Grumman awarded a $19 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to enhance and maintain the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) Framework. The delivery order was awarded under the Mission Planning Enterprise Contract (MPEC) II from the Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

• Harris and Cubic Corporation conduct technology demonstrations aimed at enhancing situational awareness by distributing Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) video and targeting data across wideband ground tactical communications networks. The demonstrations integrated Cubic’s Common Data Link (CDL) transceiver technology for receiving video’s from UAS platforms with the Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-117G open-standard widebrand tactical radio.

• Airbus Military completes the first flight of a C295 aircraft fitted with an Airbone Early Warning and Command (AEW&C) rotodome.

• UAS Vision reports that Rheinmetall has responded to the German Army’s request for a follow-on solution for the Heron 1 reconnaissance system by offering the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron TP. Rheinmetall and IAI already cooperate with the German Army under its Systems for Imagery Reconnaissance Deep in the Area of Operations (SAATEG) program.

• PRV Aerospace acquires Quality Forming, LLC , a manufacturer of large and complex, high-value precision sheet metal components and assemblies for the aerospace industry.

• Israeli UAS manufacturer Innocon signs a contract to supply 50 MicroFalcon systems to an unnamed Asian country.

350-ISR layout

June 1 /11: Raytheon Co. in McKinney, TX receives a $24 million firm-fixed-price contract award to buy 2 used commercial Beechcraft airliners, then refurbish the airframes, add special mission equipment and components, and cover spare parts, accessories and other material and services for the Arab Republic of Egypt. Work will be performed in McKinney, TX, and Egypt, with an estimated completion date of July 31/12. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by the US Army’s AMCOM Contracting Center at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-11-C-0084).

Raytheon spinoff HawkerBeechcraft’s King Air twin-turboprops have found a niche as affordable, long endurance manned reconnaissance airplanes. Used commercial aircraft are likely to be the King Air B200/ 300, which have been bought and refurbished for Canadian use under the MARSS program, rather than the new King Air 350ERs in use by Iraq and the USA. Malta operates King Air B200s as maritime patrol craft, and private firms like ASSI (SkyEye 350) and Dynamic Aviation own King Air ISR planes that are available for lease.

In all of these variants, a belly “canoe” fits the required surveillance gear, which can involve surface-viewing radars, surveillance and targeting turrets like Raytheon’s own MTS, and more. Inside, workstations in the plane receive the data; depending on the communications gear and available bandwidth, that information can be sent on to command sites. The net effect is similar to a Predator level UAV, but with more sensors and more flexibility, in exchange for less endurance in the air.

BAMS Operation Concept

The world’s P-3 Orion fleets have served for a long time, and many are reaching the end of their lifespans. In the USA, and possibly beyond, the new P-8 Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft will take up the P-3’s role. While the P-8’s base 737-based airframe offers strong service & maintenance arguments in its favor, the airframe is expensive enough that the P-3s cannot be replaced on a 1:1 basis.

In order to extend the P-8 fleet’s reach, and provide additional capabilities, the Poseidon was expected to work with at least one companion UAV platform. This DID FOCUS Article explains the winning BAMS (Broad Area Maritime Surveillance) concept, the program’s key requirements, and its international angle. We’ll also cover ongoing contracts and key events related to the program, which chose Northrop Grumman’s navalized RQ-4N (now MQ-4C) Global Hawk:

• Next-Gen Maritime Patrol Systems: Issues and Options
• BAMS: Requirements and Missions
• BAMS: The MQ-4C Maritime Hawk
• BAMS: The International Angle
• BAMS: The Program [updated]
• BAMS: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
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• UK Public Accounts Committee report cites GBP 3.5 billion in cost overruns for RAF Typhoon fighter program; MoD says program is “under control and back on track.”

• Republican US senators send letter to President Obama, opposing reported proposal giving Russia “red-button” sway over European missile defense shield, and sharing sensitive information about the program.

• Boeing Military Aircraft president Christopher M. Chadwick discusses India’s potential orders for 4 more P-8i sea control jets, and 10 C-17 heavy aerial transports.

• DARPA wants to explore the science of storytelling. Otherwise known as “Neurobiology of Narratives.”

• David Axe offers front-line descriptions of recent combat in Afghanistan.

• Recent NASA R&D funding involves new “magic skin” outer layers for composite airframe structures – incl. conductive film and energy-absorbing foams.

• L-3’s Platform Integration division gets approval to begin low-rate initial production of the ISR mission avionics suite for the US Navy’s EP-3E Spiral 3-configured electronic eavesdropping aircraft.

• Russian Navy floats out 3rd Steregushchy-class corvette (Boyky) from the St. Peterburg Severnaya Verf shipyard.

• UK completes Route Trident extension linking Lashkar Gah and Gereshk in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.

• General Atomics opens a UK division to support its British customer, who has received 6 MQ-9 Reapers and awaits the arrival of the other 4.

• GD NASSCO launches USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) dry cargo/ammunition supply ship at its San Diego shipyard.

• US falls short on efforts to develop and acquire medical countermeasures for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear) agents, says GAO [PDF]. As the Japanese are learning, those countermeasures can have civilian applications, too.

• Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter tells Commission on Wartime Contracting that DoD needs “fast lane” to speed procurement and deployment of weapons in wartime, warns against over-reliance on contractor debarment to combat fraud.

• The US Federal Communications Commission, fresh from its stellar job selling off the B-2 bomber’s radar frequency and forcing a $1+ billion switch, has issued an L-band broadband satellite license that’s likely to interfere with GPS signals. The question “Where on earth does the FCC get its ideas?” may presuppose the wrong answer.

• A small number of defense programs are driving cost increases in DoD’s budget, GAO finds.
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• More UK defense cuts this year, says Defence Equipment Minister Peter Luff.

• North Korea attacks South Korean government computers.

• The Pentagon’s quasi-decoy blimps idea is a good one.
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